The first thing that caught everyone’s attention when 13-year-old Angelina Jordan took the stage at America’s Got Talent: The Champions was not her voice, but rather her bare feet. Calm, almost frail-looking, she subtly stated that it is a particular tradition of hers to always sing barefoot. She then selected one of the most iconic rock tunes, Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
She reimagined the original entirely rather than replicating it. She transformed a stadium anthem into something delicate and poignant by slowing it down to an intimate, eerie ballad. The theater was silent from the opening note. Her words were full of emotion much beyond her years, and her tone was kind yet well controlled. Judges who had previously witnessed thousands of vocalists were now gaping, blinking, and wide-eyed.
The response grew as the song did. During the performance, the audience began to cheer, and the room exploded in a standing ovation as she played the last note. As gold confetti showered down around her, judge Heidi Klum didn’t even hesitate before slamming the Golden Buzzer, sending the barefooted girl straight to the finals. The performance went viral all over the world, and even Queen’s official outlets later praised her rendition.
Many competitors aspire to “make a song their own.” In fact, this 13-year-old did it. People will be listening to this rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody” for years to come. One girl, one stage, no shoes.
